Folding bed for automobiles



July 29. 1924.

l I J. F. TESKE FOLDING BED FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed ril 3 1 m {RP m K 1923 Sheets Sheet INVEN TOR.

ATONE.

July 29 1924.

J. F. TESKE FOLDING BED FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed p il 16 1923 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

J. F. TESKE July 29 1924.

FOLDING BED FOR AUTOMOBILES s sheets-sheet 5 Filed April 16 INVENTOR.

ATTON.

Patented July 29, 1924.

i 'rA'rs JULIUS F. TESKE, OF MOBRIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

FOLDING BED Fort AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 16, 1923. Serial No. 632,506.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS F. TESKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mobridge, in the county of VValworth and State of SouthDakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingBeds for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accoi'npanying drawings.

This invention relates to camping outfits, and particularly to a foldingcamp bed adapted to be mounted upon the running board of an automobile.

The general object of this invention is to i provide a construction ofthis character comprising a foldable supporting frame which is normallycarried in a folded up condition upon the running board of theautomobile but which may be unfolded and will provide oppositelydisposed bed frames each supporting a mattress web, there being a tentadapted to be mounted upon the supporting frame and which, whenunfolded, extends over the oppositely disposed beds and engages with thelegs thereof.

, A further object is to provide a construction of this character whichdoes not require any stakes, ropes or unnecessary equipment, which isvery simple to operate and only requires a few minutes to set up or takedown and folds into a relatively small box which is hinged stationary onthe side of the running board and will not be in the way of either door.so A still further object is to provide a device of this character whichis adapted to provide two single beds for accommodating two persons, onein each bed, or two double beds which will accommodate four persons.

Another object is to provide tent poles for the tent and provide meanswhereby these tent poles may be collapsed or expanded and held in anexpanded condition so as to properly support the tent above the beds.

Still another object is to provide joints between the sections of eachbed frame whereby these bed frames may be locked in proper position-Other objects will appear in the course of 50 the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a perspective view of my folding bed for automobiles showingthe same unfolded;

, Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the members 31,showing the manner in which the canvas is attached thereto;

, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through one of the members 34,showing the manner in which the canvas is hooked to the end members ofthe bed frame;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the running board of an automobile,showing the box enclosing the beds and tent folded;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the bed frames, showing themanner in which it folds;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the manner in whichtwo of the sections of the folded bed frame may be locked to each other;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the unfolded sectionsof the box;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tent disposed over the bed frame;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view through one of the tent poles;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a corner of the bed frame showing themember 57 by which the tent is held stretched.

Referring to these drawings, 10 designates a box, the end wall 11 ofwhich is adapted to be hinged to the running board a of the automobile Aso that this box may be turned either into a vertical position or into ahorizontal position. The box is formed with one end 11 before referredto and two sides 12 so that when the box is turned into a hori zontalposition it is open at its outer end. Hinged to the box section 10 is abox section 13 having a bottom and two sides 14. The sides 14 overlapthe outer faces of the sides 12 and the sides 14 are pivoted to thesides 12 by means of a pivot bolt or equivalent element 15 so that thebox section 13 may be turned over upon the box section 11 in theposition shown in Figure 4.

The box section 13 at its opposite ends has the reinforcing strip 16which is riveted or otherwise attached to the sides 14, and pivoted toeach reinforcing strip are the legs 17. These legs are formed of channeliron and one flange of each leg is extended beyond the other flange, asat 18, to form a hinge leaf, through which passes the pivot 19 whichmight be a rivet or a bolt. The legs are connected at, their lower endsby means of a transverse rod 20, the outer rod being formed with a beingformed with a longitudinally extending slot 21 atits middle throughwhich a staple is adapted to extend when the leg is folded against thebox. A sheet of canvas 13 is attached to the edge of the bottom 10 andextends to the edge of the bottom 13 across the joint between the twosections. The bottom of the section 13 at its outer end carries anupwardly extending, tubular socket 22 in which one tent pole is adaptedto be disposed, and at its inner end the box section 10 is provided witha corresponding tubular socket 23. Mounted upon the end wall 11 of thebox section 10 above the tubular socket 23 is an eye 24 and one of thetent poles is adapted to extend through this eye and through the socket23.

Coacting with the box sections 12 and 14 are two bed frames adapted tobe folded up entirely within the box or unfolded and extended laterallyfrom the box. Inasmuch as both bed frames are alike, it is onlynecessary to describe one of these bed frames. Each bed frame is made ofsections of angle iron having any desired size, and each sectionconsists of two longitudinal bar elements and the longitudinal bars areformed of two sections of angle iron, designated 25 and 26, each sectionhaving an upwardly extending flange and a horizontally extending flange.The section 25 is pivoted to the section 26 at 27, the vertical flangeof the section 25 longitudinally extending slot 28 through which therivet 27 passes. The horizontal flange of section 25 is formed with adownwardly extending stud having a relatively wide head 29 and thehorizontal flange of the section 26 is formed with a slot 30 which, whenthe sections are forced toward each other, engages with the headed stud29 and locks the sec tions in a horizontal position. f When it isdesired to fold the' sections upon each other, the sections are drawnapart, thus releasing the locking stud 29 from its engagement with theslot 30, and then the sections may be folded over one on top of theother, as illustrated in Figure 5.

e same construction is usedfor the sections 31 and 32 of the outsidelateral frame and for the sections 33 and 34 of the end frames. Thus itwill be seen that the rec tangular frame upon which the webbin for thebed is adapted to be stretched is foldable twice so that the bed frameoccupies only a quarter of its normal extent. V

The section 26 of each bed frame has attached to its under face thecurved irons 35,' these irons being formed with slots 36. At tached onthe inside of each side wall of the box isa guide rod 37, the lower endof which is inserted in the floor of the box section 10 and the upperend of which is inwardly deflec'ted toward the wall 12'and thenlaterally deflected and attached to the side of the this opening box, asat 38. These rods pass through the slots 36 and thus form a slidinghinge for the bed sections so thatthe bed sections may be lifted fromthe bottom of the box, then unfolded and extended in a horizontal planefrom the upper edges of the side walls of the box. Attached to the endsof the sections 31 and 32 are thelegs 39. These are also made of angleiron and one flange of the angle iron is extended, as at 40, and pivotedto the vertical flange of section 31 by means of the rivet or bolt 41.Thus this leg may be folded up against the section 31 or be shifteddownward into a vertical position. The lower extremity of the leg hasone flange formed with a deflected tongue 42 whose purpose is to enga ean eye on the wall tent to hold the sides 0 the tent down into position.

Permanently attached .to the side rails of each bed section is a canvasweb 43. The sides of this canvas web are folded over for a certaindistance and disposed within this canvas web and within the pocketformed of this folded-over portion are the two metallic strips 44. Thesestrips are riveted to the horizontal flanges of the side pieces 31 and32. The ends of the canvas web are folded over and stitched to formpockets, and disposed in these pockets are the reinforcing strips 45.There are two of these strips for the urpose of permitting the canvas tobe fol ed longitudinally. The ends of the canvas web have attached tothem a plurality of hooks 46 made of strap iron and riveted to thereinforcing members 45. These hooks are adapted to engage over thevertical flanges of the end sections 33 and 34 to stretch the canvas weblongitudinally; Preferably the canvas web is longitudinally stren thenedby reinforcing strips of canvas 47. he tent 48 is, of course, made ofsuitable wei ht canvas and of suitable length and widt It isapproximately in the form of an A tent. There is no ridge pole but thecanvas is supported by means of the tent poles at each end, these tentpoles being ormed in two sections 49 and 50. The section 50 is intendedto be inserted in the socket 22 or 23 as the case may be, and thesection 49 telescopes within the section 50. Preferably the section 50is formed with an opening 51 and a resilient latch 52 is provided havinga tooth which extends through and through an aperture in the section 49.There may be a plurality of apertures in the section 49 so that thissection may be adjusted vertically to any desired height to take up anyslack in the canvas.

I do not wish to be limited to any particular latch for holdingthe-section 49 adjusted upon the section 50, but I have found the latchwhich I have illustrated very convenient. The section 49 is formed witha cap 53 at its upper end, and mounted upon this cap is the angular iron54 to which the canvas is stitched. Mounted upon the upper end of eachtent pole above the tent 48 is an eye or equivalent member 55, to whicha guy rope 56 is attached. This guy rope is for the purpose of guyingthe tent in case of storm but is ordinarily not needed. Along the lineof junction between the end wall of the tent and the roof of the tentthere is disposeda small iron 57 the inner end of the iron beinglongitudinally slotted, as at 58, and angled so that the inner end ofthe iron will rest upon the horizontal flange of the section 34 andengage the stud 59 thereof and support the outer margin of the tent inspaced relation to the outer margin of the bed. The tent may beconstructed in any suitable manner and is provided at its opening and atany desired point with eyes whereby the tent may be laced up and wherebyit may be packed down in case of need. Obviously other guy ropes mightbe used if desired wherever it is necessary to strengthen the tentagainst wind. Preferably the side walls of the case or box section 14are formed with upwardly projecting studs 59 and the section 25' of thefoldable bed frame is formed with an opening 60 which fits this stud sothat when the frame is turned into a right angular position with thewall 14 and opened out, the section 25 will be held from anylongitudinal movement which would unlock it from the section 26 andpermit it to be folded over or cause the joint to break.

It will be seen that with this construction the frames are foldable intoa very small compass and may be readily folded inward within the box orcasing section 10, the webbing forming the bed, of course, folding upinto the frame. The guide rods 37 permit these frames to be folded downinto the bottom of the box 10 and then the tent itself may be rolledupor folded up and with the collapsible tent poles placed within the box.When all has been compactly folded within the box the section 13 isfolded over upon the section 10 to form a cover therefor and then thetwo sections are turned upon the hinges and into an upright position onthe running board of the automobile.

Ordinarily the box 10 is 11" deep, 12 Wide and 3 long. When the box isunfolded and the frames unfolded this provides two beds disposed about11" off the floor with a space of 12 between the two beds, each bedbeing 6 in length. Obviously the box 10 might be made larger as, forinstances, 18" or 24 wide or any width'desired which would allow forwhatever space was desired between the beds when unfolded and yet at thesame time this would permit a very compact folding of the structure.This camp outfit does not require any stakes, ropes or unnecessaryequipment. It mote from the box, and a webbing of textile is very simpleto operate and only requires a few minutes to set up or take down andfolds into a small box which is hinged permanently to the side of therunning board into a position which will not foul either the front dooror the back door.

Obviously slight changes might be made in the details of constructionand arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim 1. A folding bed structure of the character described comprisinga box formed in two sections and adapted to be permanently hinged to therunning board of an automobile, the sections of the box being adapted tobe folded out into a horizontal position and aligned relation, the outersection of the box having folding legs at both ends whereby it may besupported from the ground, a" foldable bed frame operatively mountedwithin the box adapted to be shifted to a horizontal position at rightangles to one wall of the box, and a webbing constituting a bedoperatively connected at its sides to the sidesof the foldable bed frameand adapted to be operatively connected at its ends to the ends of thefoldable bed frame.

2. A folding bed and tent structure of the character describedcomprising a box formed in two sections and adapted to be permanentlyhinged to the running board of an automobile, the sections of the boxbeing adapted to be folded out into a horizontal position and alignedrelation, the outer section of the box having folding legs at its outerend whereby it may be supported from the ground, a foldable bed frameoperatively mounted within the box adapted to be shifted to a horizontalposition at right angles to one wall of the box, and a webbingconstituting a bed operatively connected at its sides to the sides ofthe foldable bed frame and adapted to be operatively connected at itsends to the ends of the foldable bed frame.

3. A foldable bed and tent structure for automobiles comprising a boxformed in two sections, one of the sections being adapted to bepermanently hinged to the running board of the automobile, the othersection being hinged to the first named section and both sections beingadapted to be turned down into a horizontal position and folded uponeach other into a vertical position, foldable bed frames operativelyconnected with each side wall of the first named box section and whenunfolded to extend approximately the length of both box sections andextend laterally in a horizontal position, foldable legs on the bedsections adapted to be turned into a. vertical position to support theside of each bed section refabric attached to the sides of said framesand adapted to be engaged with the ends of the frames;

4. In a foldable bed structure for automobiles, a box section adapted tobe turned down into a horizontal position and having vertical guidesmounted upon one side wall thereof, a bed frame having sides and ends,each side consisting of two sections pivotally connected to each otherand adapted to be locked in an aligning relation or unlocked to permitthe two sections to 'be folded one on top of the other, two end sectionsat each end of the bed frame pivotal'ly engaged with each other andadapted to be locked in an aligning relation or unlocked to permit thebed sections to fold, one of the said sections being slidingly engagedwith the vertical rods on the wall of the, bo x, the opposite sidesections being rovided' with folding legs, and a web of textile fabricattached to the side sections of the bed frame and adapted to be foldedup with said} side ,sections and having means at the op "site ends ofthe web whereby it may be etachably engaged with the end sectionsbftheif fra ine.

5. A. camping outfit of the character described comprising a box sectionhaving sides, a bottom and one end wall, the opposite end of the boxsection being open, a second box section having a bottom and two sidewalls pivoted --to the open end of the first named box section so thatthe two sections may be turned over upon each other or into horizontalalignment,-legs carried upon the free ends of the second named box.section, guide bars extending upward parallel to a side wall of thefirst named box section and then extending inward. adjacent the edgethereof, a bed frame formed of foldable sections, one of said sectionshaving a len th equal to the length of the side wall an being slotted,curved lugs extending b therefrom and through which the guide bars pass,legs pivotally mounted upon the sections of the frame remote from saidlugs,'a

plurality of sections, means for supporting the outer end of the outersection of the box, bed frames permanently connected to the box butfoldable into or out of the box and when unfolded extending laterallyfrom the box, legs supporting the outer sides of the bed frames, webbingmounted upon said bed frames and foldable therewith into the box.

7. In a camping outfit of the character described, a box made of twosections, one adapted to be hingedly connected to the running board ofthe automobile and the other pivotally connected to the first namedsection, supporting legs at the free end of the last named sectionwhereby bot-h sections may be supported in a horizontal plane, twosupporting frames hingedly engaged with the walls of the box. each ofsaid frames consisting of laterally and longitudinally expansiblesections, and foldable legs connected to the sides of the frame remotefrom said box, and webbing connected to each frame.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JULIUs F; TEsKE.

